Kogi PDP chairman backs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s efforts to revive Ajaokuta Steel, highlighting her commitment to national industrial development
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in Kogi State, Muhammed Sanni Gambo, has reaffirmed the party’s full support for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s bid to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company, declaring, “You are our pride, we stand with you.”
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The statement was issued in Lokoja on Friday, following a budget defence session in which Akpoti-Uduaghan sought funding for the long-dormant steel plant.
During the session, the senator reportedly engaged in a heated exchange with the Senate committee chairman, Patrick Ndubueze, over allocations for the facility.
Gambo praised Akpoti-Uduaghan’s dedication to her constituents, urging her to remain focused despite attempts to undermine her advocacy.
“The senator’s passion for Ajaokuta Steel is not new; it is a promise she made during her campaign,” Gambo said.
He described her as “a pride of the 10th Senate” and expressed confidence in her ability to deliver tangible results.
Gambo also highlighted the broader significance of reviving Ajaokuta Steel, stressing that a functional steel industry is crucial for Nigeria’s socio-economic development and technological advancement.
According to details from the 2026 Appropriation Bill, the Federal Government has proposed N6.04 billion in personnel costs for workers of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, despite the plant remaining inactive for more than four decades.
The total allocation for the steel company stands at N6.69 billion, with personnel expenses alone accounting for roughly 90.4 per cent of the budgeted sum.
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Akpoti-Uduaghan’s advocacy underscores a growing call for operationalising Nigeria’s long-neglected industrial assets, with supporters viewing the revival of Ajaokuta Steel as a potential catalyst for economic transformation in Kogi State and beyond.
